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New York governor signs budget focused on 'families' and 'affordability'
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

New York governor signs budget focused on 'families' and 'affordability'

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the state's $269 billion budget, two months behind schedule, focusing on "families" and "affordability."
  • Key measures include energy rebates, school meals, lower auto insurance rates, universal childcare, and a tax on luxury homes.
  • The budget also addresses climate policy by adjusting emission reduction goals and allocating funds for renewable energy, while limiting immigration enforcement activities.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed the state's $269 billion budget, a legislative package that faced a two-month delay but is now set to prioritize "families" and "affordability." Hochul, seeking re-election, celebrated the budget as "extraordinary" and one that puts "families and New Yorkers first."

The budget includes a range of initiatives aimed at easing financial burdens for residents. These include energy rebates, expanded school meal programs, reduced auto insurance premiums, and universal childcare. A $1 billion allocation will provide $200 checks to over 8 million residents to offset the impact of the war in Iran on electricity costs. Hochul also highlighted universal childcare as a key issue, aligning with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

We are going to continue with our full agenda of affordability, with an energy rebate, meals in schools, lower auto insurance rates, universal childcare, ... tips without taxes...

— Kathy HochulThe governor enumerated some of the measures included in the budget during the signing ceremony.

While the budget aims to support families, it also includes significant policy shifts. Climate goals were adjusted, moving the target for greenhouse gas emission reductions from 40% by 2030 to 60% by 2040, though $1 billion is earmarked for renewable energy development. Immigration enforcement activities by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be limited, with stricter requirements for warrants and visible identification for agents during raids in sensitive locations like schools and hospitals.

The budget also provides substantial aid to New York City, estimated at $8 billion, to address a deficit attributed to the previous administration. Additionally, it includes pension improvements for teachers, police officers, and firefighters. The budget's passage marks the latest in nearly two decades, reflecting ongoing disagreements over its various policy components, including immigration and climate measures.

universal childcare is a key issue, and I share it with the mayor of New York City, the social democrat Zohran Mamdani

— Kathy HochulThe governor highlighted a key policy shared with the city's mayor.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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